Top Chef

"The discovery of a new dish does more for the happiness of mankind than the discovery of a star."
-Anthelme Brillat-Savarin

For our birthdays, my mom gave us a gift certificate to My Girlfriend’s Kitchen [they’ve just been bought out by A Dinner A’Fare], a make-your-own dinner place in town. This is apparently all the rage in my hometown, but I have just recently heard about such a unique concept.

On Saturday, Rob and I stopped by to make ten meals that we could take home to freeze for later. It was so much fun! At each station, we measured and poured each [fresh!] ingredient into our take-home container.
Now we have a freezer full of Bok Choy Beef, Chicken Crepes, Siesta Chicken Stew, Chicken Skewers, and more!! Yum!

Who needs PhotoShop?

“When you realize how perfect everything is you will tilt your head back and laugh at the sky”
-Buddha

Look at the view from our patio last night. The sky was really that color. No photoshop filter here! Talk about eerie!

Separated at birth

“It is true that I was born in Iowa, but I can't speak for my twin sister.” -Abigail Van Buren

I’ve never met anybody that looks exactly like me—although when I was a kid, I did have an uncanny resemblance to Tina Majorino. And I’ve never met anybody that acts just like me—I mean, who could be as wonderful as me :) But this weekend, I met someone who is living the same story I am.

In a nutshell,

• Our names start with the same letter, and both have four letters.
• Our husbands are both engineers, and both work for the same company, at the same plant, with the same boss. [That would explain how we met. We were driving to the husbands’ coworker’s wedding.]
• We’re both impatiently waiting for our husbands to get promoted and transferred—as they were promised when they accepted the job offer.
• Both of our husbands are commuting about an hour one way, everyday, because there’s no reason to relocate permanently or even semi-permanently if he gets transferred in two months.
• So we’re both stuck paying rent, when we would really rather settle down and buy a house.
• We've both put our careers on hold, waiting for this impending relocation.
• We’re both interested in pursuing a different career path than we’re currently in, or that we went to college for.
• We both want to be teachers.
• We both want to teach a population that most people think we’re crazy for requesting.
• We both want to teach middle school history, and even more specifically than that, Georgia history, or whatever state we happen to be transferred to.

That was the progression of our conversation as we drove to the wedding. It was getting spooky as the conversation continued. But needless to say, there was plenty to talk about, plenty to gripe about, and plenty of information to be learned about various paths to teacher certification.

The wives.

The husbands, including the newest husband--the groom

Only Thursday

“I fell asleep reading a dull book and dreamed I kept on reading, so I awoke from sheer boredom.”
-Heinrich Heine

It’s only Thursday, and it’s not even two o’ clock yet. You’ve got to be kidding me.

After an office-wide “come to Jesus” meeting on Monday morning, everyone has been diligently working, trying to bring in some cash, in a period where cash isn’t exactly falling from the sky. I’ve been racking my brain this week trying to think of things to occupy my time, and I’ve been pretty successful up to this point.

I’ve gotten a head start on a couple of stalled projects; I’ve written a couple of press releases for newly-launched products; I’ve assisted in redesigning our company website, and I’ve started organizing some product specification documents until I reached the point where I’m waiting for information from the client.

Everything on my last-resort to-do list has been checked off.
And yet, it’s only Thursday afternoon. What do I do now? And, what will I do tomorrow? Next week?

Birthday week

“There are three hundred and sixty-four days when you might get un-birthday presents ... and only one for birthday presents, you know.”
-Lewis Carroll

So this is the result of husband and wife having birthdays in the same week, car dealerships feeling that they need to share in your celebration, and a crazy grandmother who thinks that “you’re so special that you deserve two birthday cards.”
We went pretty low-key for Rob’s birthday as well. But while he had weekend duty, I spent Saturday morning baking a key lime pie. I squeezed the limes, crushed the graham crackers, and attempted the meringue two-and-a-half times before success. Rob was thrilled, and in fact, asked if we could have pie for dinner last night. Don’t tell—but we did! He has now decided that I should try a new pie every weekend—and as long as I continue to substitute Splenda for sugar, even our waistlines may agree.

(I promise the meringue looked better than that before I put it in the refrigerator!!)

Who needs matchy-matchy

“We are shaped and fashioned by what we love.”
-Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Everyone’s entitled to a day when they’re clothes don’t quite match. Right? Hint: the answer is Yes!

‘Cause today I’m wearing gold sandals, new plaid Bermuda shorts (which happen to look very similar to a pair I already had in my closet, but, hell, that just means that I really like them), and a gray blue camisole under a new sheer, peachy-pink shirt. And I’m also carrying a blue & white seersucker bag.

The peachy-pink shirt just really doesn’t go. And the gold sandals don’t clash, but they don’t quite match either. And the bag is just absurd with this outfit. So why did I put this combination together, you ask. Because I just wanted to wear each of these things today.

And, for heaven’s sake, I was just going to work. No one cares there. I might have to run to Kroger after work, but I’m sure Kroger has send worse than the likes of me.

I promise that if we go out tonight, I’ll take off the peachy-pink shirt and will exchange the blue & white seersucker bag for a solid-colored bag. But after paying for a new radiator, a traffic ticket, and an expected increase in car insurance rates, I doubt we’ll be going out tonight. So, until then, I’ll be wearing my mismatched favorite clothing.

Finish this verse

“Those who danced were thought to be quite insane by those who could not hear the music.”
-Angela Monet

“Rolling down the road
Going no where
Guitar packed in the trunk
Somewhere round mile marker 112…”

What’s the next line of Marc Broussard’s song, “Home”?I thought it was “Papa started hummin’ the tune.”
Rob thought it was “Papa started hollerin’ the funk.”

Guess what it really is?
“Papa started hummin’ the funk.”

What a good team we make!

Hot off the hanger

"Fashions fade, style is eternal."
-Yves Saint Laurent

Umm, so I may have a new best friend. And, therefore, Rob might have a new enemy. On a whim yesterday, I stopped by Plato’s Closet on the way home from work. Plato’s Closet buys and sells brand name, gently used clothing, specifically for juniors and/or young adults. Let’s just say I got 5 pieces of clothing for less than $25 yesterday, including a dress to wear to Ms. Callie’s rehearsal dinner. I’m still on the lookout for a yellow cardigan, so I might just have to stop by next Monday when they have an “everything-that-fits-in-one-bag-is-fifteen-dollars” sale.

Celebrity is in the eye of the beholder

“Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord? I have heard you calling in the night. I will go, Lord, if you lead me. I will hold your people in my heart.”
-Daniel L Schutte

I got to take off from work for my birthday yesterday. Unfortunately I didn’t get to play the day away, but instead I went up to Athens to help Lisa with the visuals for the North Georgia United Methodist Conference.

We worked really hard on making a banner for the grand entrance and then prepared the altars for the Opening Service and the Ordination Service.

I was supposed to get to eat breakfast with the Bishop, but he just had time to poke his head in—and I missed him. However, later just before the service, he asked Lisa to introduce us.

When I told Rob that I got to meet the Bishop, I explained that he’s a celebrity of sorts. As celebrity as a local religious leader gets, I suppose. And that fact was confirmed when I got to work today, and one of my bosses eagerly asked, “Did you get to meet the Bishop?”

What a Wednesday!

“The only way to solve the traffic problems of the country is to pass a law that only paid-for cars are allowed to use the highways. That would make traffic so scarce, we could use our boulevards for children's playgrounds.”
-Will Rogers

After 4 years of commuting an hour back and forth to work, Rob had his first car accident today. He called me when I was on the way to an early morning meeting. He was driving down the off-ramp, just about a mile from the office, when the lady in front of him slammed on her brakes about 50 feet from the stop line. Rob’s brakes locked up on him, and SMASH!

Looks like Rob will be getting a new radiator for his birthday!!

A night at the drive-in

“You know what your problem is, it's that you haven't seen enough movies - all of life's riddles are answered in the movies.”
-Steve Martin

This weekend we went to the drive-in theater with friends to see the action-packed adventures, The Incredible Hulk and Iron Man. It’s amazing how similar the plots seem when you watch them back-to-back. However, they were interesting enough to keep me awake, way past my bedtime. Although that might have been due to the candy and soda in my belly.

Here are A and Z.

After the fun night with friends, Rob told me, “I really like hanging out with other couples, it always makes me grateful that I have you.” Well, honey, I feel the same way.

What's in a name

“Names are not always what they seem. The common Welsh name BZJXXLLWCP is pronounced Jackson.” -Mark Twain

I love names. And I always have. As a child, Callie and I would spend hours and hours naming our pretend children when playing house (aka "Hiiiii, I know you") or even naming our pretend students when playing school. We had a pretty elaborate system—much too complicated to go into now.

My mom gave us the Baby Name Book that she had used, and that became one of my most prized possessions growing up. I still have it. I wonder if the 1983 version is up-to-date enough to use when I have children.
While some little girls imagine their wedding day, I’ve always planned my children’s names. It can change day to day, but I’m always brainstorming.

Well, today I found a really cool website: Nymbler. I’m actually really impressed by its capabilities. It can take a list of names that you like, and will suggest names of the similar vein (whether it be ethnicity to historical popularity or even soap opera appearances). What fun!

My wishlist

“The greatest gift is a portion of thyself.”
-Ralph Waldo Emerson

So if in fact Rob is planning to surprise me with a birthday gift, this is what I would like, thank you very much!

I'm not counting on anything besides dinner out. (Lately, I have been saying how much I'm craving a brick oven pizza. We'll see if he can take a hint!) But, hey, a girl can dream!

I've read Jordan's advice about "Training a Man", but unfortunately Rob's company just banned gmail at work, so I can't even send him little email reminders. Maybe just putting it out there will do the trick!

This necklace is from LFJewelry Designs. She used to have one that I really loved that read "As I am." That phrase was a part of our wedding vows--even better would be a custom one that reads "Just as you are." But actually any sweet sentiment would do. :)This necklace designed by Jane Hollinger, and found on The Clay Pot is gorgeous. And I need a goes-with-everything gold necklace. And I can be more practical, too. I really really want these Teva sandals (style: Dozer 2) for our trip to Arizona. So a trip to REI would be nice!
Or even some art that we saw last month, like this one from Maria-Louise Coil that would look awesome over our bar. Although after the framing marathon a couple of weeks ago, I doubt Rob will be buying any more artwork any time soon.

4 days older

“All the world is birthday cake, so take a piece, but not too much.”
-George Harrison

Rob’s birthday is just around the corner (as in next week!!). I haven’t gotten anything for him. In fact, I really haven’t even thought of anything to get him.

That’s why I’m glad that my birthday is just 4 days before his. I can wait to see what he gets me, and then still have time to find something for him!! Hopefully it won’t need to be ordered online!

F*&*%in' A

“You can delegate authority, but not responsibility.”
-Stephen W. Comiskey

I’m so pissed off right now. I just had to walk around downstairs to calm down. I’m managing a project for one of our best clients. They are really nice and easy-going, and thus we sometimes let them slip between the cracks. And that makes me mad. In my projects, I’ve tried to stay on track and on time. But something always comes up that is out of my control. And, then I have to be the bearer of bad news.

So far, in this current project, someone sent the model-maker the wrong files, so we had to pay to redo the parts. And then, I just found out that the intern didn’t mail the package before the last shipment went out last night, so the models won’t arrive at the client’s address until tomorrow, instead of today. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that they will arrive before their big retail meeting. That’s the only hope I have left.

I have a hard time delegating projects anyway, but after shit like this, why do I even try?

Our office is very disorganized and there are no official procedures for anything. It frustrates me to no end. On the other hand, Rob works for Corporate USA, and is always asking, “did you record the issues you were having?” or “did you check everything before it went out?” That’s just not how my office works. Perhaps it should.

It's all in the details

“The purpose of art is to lay bare the questions which have been hidden by the answers.”
-James Arthur Baldwin

We got our paintings back from the frame shop! It sure does spruce up the place a bit.

The ship in our dining room.

The archway in our "hallway."

The landscapes over the couch in the living room.

And finally, Babar in the bathroom.

Some crazy calls

“I do my thing and you do yours. I am not in this world to live up to your expectations, and you are not in this world to live up to mine. You are you and I am I, and if by chance we find each other, then it is beautiful. If not, it can't be helped.”
-Frederick Perls

So it’s official, MIL is crazy!! Yesterday she called Rob to berate him about not responding to a letter and photos sent to us by his grandfather. However, we never even received the said package!

Then we realized that MIL had given Grandpa our address. And by that, I mean, she gave Grandpa the address that she sent our Christmas package to. The Christmas package that we never received because she had transposed the numbers in the zip code. No, I’m not kidding!!

Also, MIL called on Friday to fuss at Rob for not calling his cousin the night before to celebrate her graduation. We had received her graduation invitation a few weeks back and were deciding what kind of gift to send her, but we had let the actual date of the official ceremony slip our mind. Big whoop! That’s just not really a top-line item in our lives right now. I just kind of laughed when Rob told me about the call, but he was actually really upset about forgetting.

I know that this marriage thing isn’t all about changing Rob into how I want him to be, but it’s been really good for both of us to see things from a new perspective. This time (like many times) from a much more loving, much more forgiving perspective.

It's hot, hot, hot

“Popsicles should be the new black, that way everyone would have one!”
-Frank Iero

So we waited until we absolutely couldn’t stand it before we turned on the air conditioner two days ago. And guess what, it’s not blowing cold air!!! It blows and blows and blows, but the thermostat stays maxed out over 80 degrees.

Rob who manages the A/C technicians at work decided to take it upon himself to fix it. So last night he took it all apart, and then realized that we don’t have the right size filter in there. He was going to call the apartment managers today, and hopefully my house will be cool when I arrive home!

If not, I’m going to have to search around the freezer for a Popsicle or pour myself a big frozen margarita.

A loving reminder

“You can count on the sun to rise, for the stars to come out at night, as long as there's air to breathe, you'll always be loved by me."
-Brooks & Dunn

Every Tuesday we grab burritos after we go to the gym. Sometimes that’s the only motivation I have to work out. Lately Rob’s been sending me an email each week to remind me what day it is.

This was today’s:

“what a day...cant wait for qdoba tonight!
mwah
rob”

Ready, Set, Spike

“The important thing in life is not victory but combat; it is not to have vanquished but to have fought well.”
-Pierre de Coubertin

What a sporty weekend we had! We spent most of Saturday at the AVP Crocs tour tournament. Rob loves volleyball—he played in middle school and throughout college intramurals—so I bought the tickets, kind of on a whim. But we totally had a blast!

We got there before any of the matches began, and grabbed some great seats in the main stadium. Throughout the day, we sat enthralled as the best volleyball players in the United States, and even the world, battled each other in the sand. I was so excited to get to see Misty May and Kerri Walsh play around lunchtime. I remember them from the 2004 Olympics. They are just amazing!! And, I would venture that they will dominate the 2008 Olympics as well.

Misty May-Treanor goes after the ball

Kerri Walsh spikes the ball on Kropp and MasonOf course, sitting on metal bleachers in the blazing sun all day left its mark on my shoulders and thighs. I put sunscreen on, but by the time I started to look a little pink, it was already too late. Fortunately, it’s not too bad, just a little souvenir from our fun weekend.

And after watching the tournament, we were in the mood to play ourselves. Luckily, we were able to convince some of Rob's old residents to meet us at the court. Now, I have on-days and off-days when playing sports, but last night I was definitely on!! Even the guys on the other team were commenting on how good I was. Yay!!! After a couple more matches, I just might be Olympics-bound myself. Hey, I can dream!